Tuesday, June 27, 2017

We’re thrilled to be talking to Arthur Lowe from U.L.
Harper’s, The Secret Deaths of Arthur
Lowe. It is a pleasure to have him with us today at Pimp That
Character!

Thank you for your interview, Arthur.How old are you and what do you do for a
living?

I’m in my mid-forties, and I’m lucky enough to do something
as simple as being a custodian at an elementary school. I like the time by
myself, and the lack of stress. You can just do your job and go home. Thank you
for asking.

Can you tell us about one of your most distinguishable
features?

Undoubtedly, one of my most distinguished features is I can
animate things and people. When I say animate, I mean making an object,
basically, have a soul. I can make it real. On top of it, if a person is dead,
I can animate them too, and bring them back to life. I don’t think you’ve met
anyone like me. If what you want to call what I can do a power, then I
basically never use my power.

What would I love the most about you?

You would love how much I love my wife. I love her enough to
bring her back to the living. I’m not sure if she appreciates it too much, to
be honest.

What would I hate the most about you?

Well, my wife, Sandra, thinks I’m abusive. I’m not sure if
she’s wrong. I don’t hit her or yell at her. I only try to do good things by
her, but what she says is relatively convincing. It’s hard for me. Not sure if
you’d like it.

Where do you go when you are angry?

I’m probably at work when I’m angry. I just keep sweeping or
wiping or whatever. I try not to dwell on too much.

What is in your refrigerator right now?

Some eggs, some fruit, condiments. Obviously I don’t do a
lot of shopping.

What is your most treasured possession?

A possession that I’ve been attached to is my old teddy bear
from when I was a kid. It had a deep impact on me.

Do you think the author portrayed you accurately?

Yeah, he did well, in my opinion. He left me with some
secrets. He didn’t let everything out to the public, which was gracious of him.
I think people can piece together who I am in more detail if they want to.
Also, I’m not sure if he’s done writing about me. We’ll have to see.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

Just being with my girl would be perfect to me. I’m not in a
situation necessarily to make that happen but if you’re asking, that’s what I
got.

If you could change one physical thing about yourself, what
would that be?

I kind of wish I could have my hair back. In my teens, I had
a huge afro. Now, I’m balding. What man wouldn’t want to have their hair back?

Do you have children?

No children. We tried for a while but kids weren’t for us, I
suppose. Just never happened. I want to say I tried more than she did, but she
was there, if you know what I mean. But there’s something to the fact that
she’s got something against me. Again, she says I’ve been abusing her. But we
tried for a long while. Just never happened.

About the Author

U.L. Harper is a speculative fiction/horror
author, influenced by magical realism. A former journalist from Long Beach, California, he now resides in the evergreen state of Washington with his wife. He is a soon-to-be father,
and an avid Dodgers fan.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

About the Book:

While in the process of bringing his wife, Sandra, back to
the living, Arthur journals about moments from his past that changed him.

During the journal writing, he rediscovers how, as an
orphan, his ability to animate objects and people to life may have ultimately
destroyed the lives of the few who grew close to him. The old stuffed teddy
bear that helped him assemble puzzles when he was a child might have been too
much of a secret for his adoptive mother to keep. His friend Quincy, who had
abilities similar to his, might have been scared away by Arthur’s abilities.
And his grade school teacher is still harboring a secret about his biological
father that she can only hope to be true.

Once Sandra is alive again, things become more complicated.
She claims Arthur is not who or what he thinks he is. Her ire shines a
spotlight on the insidious but most likely true, unspoken nature of their
relationship.

In the meantime, a mysterious smell envelopes the
community—a stench so heinous it can be fatal. As the number of deaths from the
stench mounts, Arthur must decide who to animate back to life and who remains
dead.